Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-22
Suicidal Folly.

From the American Architect
1t is gradually becoming evident that some stand
must be taken against the abuse Of power by labor
organizations II manufacturing industry is to
continue. Already the dictation OF unions has de-
struyed one OF the most aourishing on-produciag
districts In England, so that the last furnace, out
OF more than a hundred which were once at work
there, has recently been eXtinguiShed and a SINH
lar result likely TO follow the tactics adopted
In many cases In this country. One or the most
compact, as well as most tyrannical, OrganiZa-
lions is that OF the gaSs-workerS. This has about
seven thousand members, and includes all the Op-
eratlveS In every glaSs-wOrking establishment In
the United States. No one can be employed In any
such establishment who does not belong 10
the union, and the officers OF the latter, by the
simple method OF coercion which consists I'm call
Ing out all the m n In factory at given signal,
leaving the proprietOrs helpless, with their con-
tracts TO fulnll have acquired an almost absolute
control over the business or course, one OF their
first exercises OF power has been In the fixing Of a
scale OF wages and these were at first arbitrarily
nxej at sucn rate that good workman could
earn something like SIS day by blowing eighty
dozen bottles. As usually happens, however, some
OF the members ef the union, who did not care 10
exert themselves even for the sake OF an increased
income. and who disliked to see those who did ex-
ert themselves getting more money than them
selves, procured the passage of rule, cutting
down the production to the capacity OF the poorest
men, about sixty dozen bottles day, AN impOS-
ing heavy fines on any member who tried to bet
ter himself by doing more than this; so that now
the Sklllful and oDservant men make their sixty
dozen bottles In a few hours, and are compelled,
under severe penalties, TO spend the rest OF the
day in ideness, waiting for their clumsy and lazy
fellows to catch up with them. AS all the glass
WORKING establishments are under the same code
the manufacturers do not suffer from the extrava.
CANT tariff or wages, but simply SHIFT the burden
on the consumers by incre lSing the cost OF the
goods; but the unions do not stop there
Not long ago manufacturer came TO his bust
ness one day and found The men IDLE. On inquiry
he was Informed that he was required 10 advance
a certain workman a dollar. AS he had paid the
man his wages In full the day before ne could not
see the propriety OF demand that he should ad-
Inn INn Nra. ht,ff
man coOlly explained 10 him that he owed the
union a dollar, and had no money left out OF his
weeks wages and that unless his employer ad-
vanced him the dollar the factory would be struck
or course there was nothing for it but TO hand
over the dollar, and work was then resumed.
few days ago some quarrel took place In a
Western mandatory between the owners and
the men, and the latter, as usual resorted TO their
weapons and gave notice that strike would be
ordered in thirty days. This time however the
manufacturers resisted anu called upon the others
IN the trade TO help them. The appeal met with
general response. the methods OF the unions
being about the same IN all the factories; and it
has been voted We are told II the offending factory
is struck at the appointed time, TO close all the
glass blowing establishments In the country, and
Keep them closed until it shall be definitely deter
mined who Is to manage the business for the
future.
going on between the brick manufacturers OF New
York and the central labor union. The walking
delegates OF the latter have, for some reason,
declared a boycott against certain manufacturers
and not only have they stopped work in the latters
yards, but have engaged the transfers, longshore-
men, and barge hands TO refuse 10 have any thing
To do with brick made by the offending parties
What the occasion OF the quarrel was we 40 not
know, but the other Drfckmakers OF the city, after
considering the case, have resolved to sustain their
fellows, and have already contributed $24, 600 to-
ward the expense OF doing SO, and are now con-
templating the establishment OF system OF trans
pOrtatiOn OF their own, independent OF the present
barge lines and teamsters' associations or course
the cost Of doing So and all assessments and con.
tributiOns made In aid OF the bOycotted firms will
fall, In the shape OF rent, upon the occupants of
the tenements built with the bricks, many of
whom Will also, probably, have lost considerable
part OF their income for the year, either In strlk
Ing on their own account, or in contributions to
sustain strikes somewhere else, SO that the poor
people, who live from hand to mouth, and cannot
buy things when they are cheap, ana keep them
until they are dear, must, In the end pay the whole
expense.